Happy National Fig Newton Day! Here's what happened on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which was also National Hat Day and National Strawberry Ice Cream Day. What's wrong with us?

Incumbent Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said he believes the Trump administration's immediate reversal on drilling off the Florida coast after a "showdown" with Governor Rick Scott was orchestrated to help increase Scott's chances of unseating Nelson, should Scott run in this year's elections. Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson might be on to something.

So, the flu is not just any flu this season. It's running rampant through the region's schools, and is also reportedly partly responsible for the death of a retired News Channel 8 employee who was in good health prior to contracting a strain. It's not time to panic, nor is it time to blame the anti-vaxxers — because it's never time to panic, and it's the fucking flu, not a previously semi-eradicated virus. A lot of people will be doing one or both of these things; don't be like a lot of people. Be like Jim, a guy I just made up who keeps his cool and drinks his fluids.

Members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla took a couple of insanely cute therapy pigs to Tampa General yesterday to entertain the kids of the pediatric ward out in the hospital's garden. Yes, there's video. Watch it and be comforted.

And finally, a lot of kids are biting down on Tide pods in videos on social media. Don't be like a lot of kids; be like Trevor, a kid I just made up who's too smart to risk a trip to the local poison control center in order to entertain some friends and earn the fleeting approval of some strangers. Trevor doesn't always make the right decisions, he's a kid and kids make mistakes, but I think Trevor's on the ball with this one. That Trevor, I think he's gonna be OK.

This article appears in Jan 11-18, 2018.